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Just read the article over on p'tree hoops where they give their predictions on a handful of questions in re the Hawks season. Figured I'd post them here for discussion:
1) What is the one thing that you are most sure is going to happen regarding the Atlanta Hawks this season?
2) What is the one thing you fear most regarding the Atlanta Hawks this season?
3) Which will be the biggest surprise to fans?
4) The player is the most likely to be traded is?
5) Who will be the Hawks' best player this season?
6) The best off-season acquisition will turn out to be?
7) I predict the Hawks' record and final nesting place will be?

Link - Part 2 (part 1 linked in opening paragraph): http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/27/7062937/atlanta-hawks-predictions-season-record-mvp

theatlfan wrote:Just read the article over on p'tree hoops where they give their predictions on a handful of questions in re the Hawks season. Figured I'd post them here for discussion:
1) What is the one thing that you are most sure is going to happen regarding the Atlanta Hawks this season?
2) What is the one thing you fear most regarding the Atlanta Hawks this season?
3) Which will be the biggest surprise to fans?
4) The player is the most likely to be traded is?
5) Who will be the Hawks' best player this season?
6) The best off-season acquisition will turn out to be?
7) I predict the Hawks' record and final nesting place will be?

Link - Part 2 (part 1 linked in opening paragraph): http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/27/7062937/atlanta-hawks-predictions-season-record-mvp

Great post. I'd like to here your thoughts as well on this subject theatlfan. I'll start..

1. We will make the playoffs. Coach Bud led us into the playoffs despite having the worst injury luck more than any other team in the league imo. The odds are just so incredibly low that Hordord will go down to another season ending injury this season so Im believing in him to stay healthy.

2. The thing I fear most is staying healthy all season for the most part and still losing in the 1st round of the playoffs. That tells me that it's time to make serious changes to the roster via trade or draft because we clearly can't get big market names to come play in ATL.

3. I have he biggest surprise to the fans as a tie. It will be either (A) how deep this team is and how well our 2nd unit plays or (B) the rise of John Jenkins. I could see Jenkins being a huge factor for us this season. I think he's playing with a chip on his shoulder and is ready to make a solid return.

4. This is the hardest to predict because I have absolutely no clue. So ill just list three guys simply based on my opinion/guess.

-Paul Milsap
-DeMarre Carroll
-Al Horford

5. Drum roll please....Jeff Teague. I think Teague will make major strides to improving his overall game. His stats last year were 16.5/2.6/6.7 and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say his stats will be somewhere close to this..
19.5/3.5/8.5
I'm looking for Teague to take it to another level this season for sure. Maybe I've been watching to many youtube videos of the Teague chronicles..

6. Thabo Sefolosha. It was a toss up between him and Payne but I like Thabo here. Sefolosha brings champion experience to our roster and his defense is outstanding. If he could just get his shot back I could see him leap-frogging DeMarre Carroll for that starting SF spot.

7. 3rd or 4th seed in the east. 49-50 wins. Go Hawks!

Figured I'd give these a go...

1) What is the one thing that you are most sure is going to happen regarding the Atlanta Hawks this season?
We'll make the playoffs. Not just because of the streak but also because of our veteran depth, the HC, and the fact that the HC is now in charge of personnel moves. If last year's injury riddled team can make it in, then this year's team should be able to make some noise once there.

2) What is the one thing you fear most regarding the Atlanta Hawks this season?
Regression. We saw a lot of individuals take a step up under Coach Bud last season - will we continue to see outstanding play or will they collectively regress back to their mean. For example, Carroll and Millsap could combine to shot ~20% from 3 as they did in UTH. If they can both stay around 35% then I'll be happy.

As a bonus item: BRK breaks out and becomes a 50+W beast...

3) Which will be the biggest surprise to fans?
That the team handles off the court issues like the racism scandal and sale of the team as well as they will. Sure some of this has already made the news, but not like what it'll be as we pass certain markers on the season (every time Ferry or the team's sale is in the news, nationally televised games, playoffs, etc.). But this veteran club will be able to put it in perspective and focus on what's important - winning games.

4) The player is the most likely to be traded is?
John Jenkins. I think we'll be looking to trade up at various points this season and Jenkins has worked his way back to having positive trade value once again. With us having invested in Bazemore to fill the backup SG as well as SG of the future roles as well as Coach Bud's proclivity for multiple PG lineups, I suspect that Jenkins will be imminently available and could end up being a nice trade chip for as someone who could supply immediate shooting help with upside.

5) Who will be the Hawks' best player this season?
Horford. The real discussion is who'll be 2nd behind him between Teague, Millsap, and even Korver. (Smart $$ is still on Millsap.)

6) The best off-season acquisition will turn out to be?
Gotta go with Thabo here. Bazemore and Payne are interesting but young whereas Thabo is a sure thing. Dark horse here would be Muscala even though we actually picked him up during last season.

7) I predict the Hawks' record and final nesting place will be?
I think we hit 50 Ws and nose out TOR to land 3rd in the East behind CLE and CHI. We'll coast through round 1 and win round 2 in part due to injury on CHI's part (they are always the walking wounded come playoff time - it finally catches up to them). The eventual champs CLE dominates the ECF but we're able to take 2 to make it look respectable.

1. The Hawks will move the ball and have a great system in place. Phillips arena will be half empty 80% of games.
2. Injury ( mainly Teague and Horford)
3. We reach the 2nd round of playoffs
4. Hard to tell, I feel like Millsap at the trade deadline or Korver, both are appealing to most contenders in the NBA.
5. Horford
6. Bazemore
7. I say 48 wins 4th or 5th in the East.

PMOTT3 wrote:Great post. I'd like to here your thoughts as well on this subject theatlfan. I'll start..

1. We will make the playoffs. Coach Bud led us into the playoffs despite having the worst injury luck more than any other team in the league imo. The odds are just so incredibly low that Hordord will go down to another season ending injury this season so Im believing in him to stay healthy.

2. The thing I fear most is staying healthy all season for the most part and still losing in the 1st round of the playoffs. That tells me that it's time to make serious changes to the roster via trade or draft because we clearly can't get big market names to come play in ATL.

3. I have he biggest surprise to the fans as a tie. It will be either (A) how deep this team is and how well our 2nd unit plays or (B) the rise of John Jenkins. I could see Jenkins being a huge factor for us this season. I think he's playing with a chip on his shoulder and is ready to make a solid return.

4. This is the hardest to predict because I have absolutely no clue. So ill just list three guys simply based on my opinion/guess.

-Paul Milsap
-DeMarre Carroll
-Al Horford

5. Drum roll please....Jeff Teague. I think Teague will make major strides to improving his overall game. His stats last year were 16.5/2.6/6.7 and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say his stats will be somewhere close to this..
19.5/3.5/8.5
I'm looking for Teague to take it to another level this season for sure. Maybe I've been watching to many youtube videos of the Teague chronicles..

6. Thabo Sefolosha. It was a toss up between him and Payne but I like Thabo here. Sefolosha brings champion experience to our roster and his defense is outstanding. If he could just get his shot back I could see him leap-frogging DeMarre Carroll for that starting SF spot.

7. 3rd or 4th seed in the east. 49-50 wins. Go Hawks!

I was still typing when you posted... You stole my thunder with the answer to 1, but at least you didn't hit me too hard about my inability to count

theatlfan wrote:

PMOTT3 wrote:Great post. I'd like to here your thoughts as well on this subject theatlfan. I'll start..

1. We will make the playoffs. Coach Bud led us into the playoffs despite having the worst injury luck more than any other team in the league imo. The odds are just so incredibly low that Hordord will go down to another season ending injury this season so Im believing in him to stay healthy.

2. The thing I fear most is staying healthy all season for the most part and still losing in the 1st round of the playoffs. That tells me that it's time to make serious changes to the roster via trade or draft because we clearly can't get big market names to come play in ATL.

3. I have he biggest surprise to the fans as a tie. It will be either (A) how deep this team is and how well our 2nd unit plays or (B) the rise of John Jenkins. I could see Jenkins being a huge factor for us this season. I think he's playing with a chip on his shoulder and is ready to make a solid return.

4. This is the hardest to predict because I have absolutely no clue. So ill just list three guys simply based on my opinion/guess.

-Paul Milsap
-DeMarre Carroll
-Al Horford

5. Drum roll please....Jeff Teague. I think Teague will make major strides to improving his overall game. His stats last year were 16.5/2.6/6.7 and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say his stats will be somewhere close to this..
19.5/3.5/8.5
I'm looking for Teague to take it to another level this season for sure. Maybe I've been watching to many youtube videos of the Teague chronicles..

6. Thabo Sefolosha. It was a toss up between him and Payne but I like Thabo here. Sefolosha brings champion experience to our roster and his defense is outstanding. If he could just get his shot back I could see him leap-frogging DeMarre Carroll for that starting SF spot.

7. 3rd or 4th seed in the east. 49-50 wins. Go Hawks!

I was still typing when you posted... You stole my thunder with the answer to 1, but at least you didn't hit me too hard about my inability to count

Lol I noticed, and I thought you had a great analysis!